Scored two old Colemans

[MK]

For lights I have gone high tech with LED lamps, 12V deep cycle battery, power inverter (runs small 110V AC appliances), and a 30W solar panel to recharge. All the lights I can use, Mr. Coffee pot, lap top computer, and cell phone charger all work perfectly, and 3 to 5 hours of sunlight brings the battery back to full charge every day.

I've got a rig like that too.. Three 15w solar panels for 45w total,
and the voltage controller came with two florescent lights that are
a lot like the curly bulbs you see for house use.
The only problem is I like a real bright omnidirectional light hanging up
that will light up the whole clearing, and only a lantern seems to be
strong enough for that.
And I like that it's running on it's own power, which is less draw for the
battery. I allocate most of my battery power for my ham radio..

But the propane with it's lack of gumming issues is quite tempting..
Most of my stove use is for brewing coffee.. So it's not running all
that much. But I like a lantern hanging in the tree above me all
night.. Or at least until I pass out.. The gas lantern usually fizzles out
at about 5 AM it seems.. Just right really.. I suppose the propane model
runs about the same time with a full can.
It's just the innate cheapness in me that keeps me trying to use the
dual fuel stuff. :/
But having to constantly tinker with them to keep them running is
getting old. And they always seem to flake out at the worst times..
IE: my lantern was working great after the 2nd generator, and I
thought all was well in the world. But the next time I tried to use it,
it was leaking like crazy. And this was from just sitting up doing nothing.

 

[MK]

Make sure that you run them on premium gas and that there is no ethanol in your gas at all. It is worth the extra $ to do that. I can't see paying for gas in a 1 lb bottle when a gallon is so similar in price. 1 lb of LP is a 1/4 gallon.

I already do that. The only problem is here in Houston, most all
gas has ethanol. Supposedly the premium has less of it in some cases,
but I never know for sure.
Up in Oklahoma where I'm most often use the stuff, I can get gas
with no ethanol, but only if I go to the right stations. Some have it,
some don't.
Know what you mean about the price spread.. That's why I've resisted
going to propane so far..
It starts to add up when you are running them for several days at a
stretch. A gallon of gas will refill a lantern quite a few times.

 

[MK]

An update.. :/ With both of my new Colemans being fairly kaput,
I decided to find some old ones.. Well, I was prowling fleabay
yesterday, and ended up buying two more old Coleman lanterns,
and a 413G stove just like that one you posted up top.
It's real clean, and supposedly has been used only 2-3 times..
It's clean enough that could be true. But also with that deal, he is
also throwing in a 1966 220F lantern, which looks to be in pretty good
shape.
But I also bought another early 70's 228F from another person..
I already have one 1962 228F, and it semi works, except the fuel
tube is clogged and it needs a globe. I plan to get it going too
eventually..
But anyway, I'll now have two old 228F's, the 66 220F, and the
413G stove. And I'll probably repair the new stuff I have eventually.
"new valve packing for the new lantern, and a new generator for the
new 533 single burner stove.."
I've pretty much decided to quit burning car gas, as it clogs them
up too fast. I'm going to start using the gallon cans of Crown white
camp fuel they sell at Academy.. That should cure the generator and
other clogging issues. More $$ than car gas, but being as I don't really
use them all that often, better than having to repair the stuff
constantly.

Now, I just hope they get here, and in one piece..
I bought a Coleman cat heater off fleabay a couple of years ago,
and it got lost in the mail, even with a tracking number..

The fall is my fav camping period, and I can tell from when I was
there 2-3 weeks ago, I didn't like not having my lantern and stove..
Maybe these will give me enough of them to keep something running
at any given time. And the old stuff is better.. No doubt about it.

 

[geoff40]

The 242 is my favorite. Just looks so nice! I recently picked up a 1935 242A in a handy can, the lantern looks barely used. I will get the parts I need for it and restore it this coming winter. This is one of the lanterns that originally had a straight sided mica globe.
There is a man out there who years ago purchased the old tooling Coleman used to make these mica globes, and he is making new ones exactly like the old. In addition he also makes the acid etched glass they used briefly when they first switched to the glass globes. I can provide his contact info if anyone should want it.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Aden67:

You did swell. Thank you for your post, it brought back lots of good memories.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Sprefix]

I use a Coleman three burner stove. Big, but well worth it.

 

[CoronaDan]

Oh man....had a Coleman two burner and a single burner backpacker both oh which I bought back around 1972. Both were "appropriated" by my sons and his camping buds around 2001. Have seen neither since, but I assume they're in fine working order. Think I'll call and check! LOL

 

[geoff40]

Model 501 stove warning

Coleman's portable cooking stoves of the late 1950s and early 1960s started with the introduction of the Model 501 single burner stove. If any of you have one of these, do not use it! This model had design flaws and Coleman issued the warning years ago that they not be used, and stopped servicing them at the same time.
You should not make any attempt to rebuild the 501 either. It is a fireball waiting to happen.

 

[Aden67]

Aden67:

You did swell. Thank you for your post, it brought back lots of good memories.

Regards,

Dave

Thanks Dave. I gave the 425E a good wipe down and put a coat of Collinite wax on it. I put it away for my son. I justed used the 413 last night with my kids. Weather is finally getting cooler and I suggested that we cook dinner last night out on the deck. We cooked some freshed picked sweet corn and home made chicken strips. Then had marshmellows for desert. When it got dark we got the 220 latern out and had some family reading time together.

Great time and will be a wonderful memory.

As a side note, I did buy the propane adapter and 5' Coleman hose. I found two like new 20lb propane tanks on craigslist for $15. I filled them and have them stored on the deck for a major emergency.

 

[MK]

I was looking into that propane adapter for the stoves.
Some guy on youtube has a video of it.. Also a collection of
T's, fittings, etc. I like having multiple options..

I got the first of the lanterns a couple of days ago. And I found
a couple of gallons of Coleman fuel over at Wally world that was
actually cheaper than the Crown fuel at Academy. So I was able to
give it a test run, and it did fine.

The lantern is almost mint.. It's a lot better than I was expecting.
This one looks like it was used maybe once or twice, and stored away.
Almost like brand new, with no rust or anything. Even the silver
innerds and the band over the font still look like new.
So I did good on that one.. It is the 1972 228F.
It's clean enough to make some pretty good Coleman porn.. :/
I almost hate to use it and dirty it up.. :|
But it will be a good lantern. I like the big hat ventilators the 228's
have.
Still waiting for the 413G stove and the 66 220F lantern.
Should have them next week. They should be pretty good too,
judging by the pictures.